title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult Malaysians: an update.
abstract: A total of 4428 adults (>18 years old) from 5 different selected regions in Peninsular and East Malaysia participated in this health survey. Using World Health Organization recommendations for body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of overweight and obesity were found to be 33.6% (95% CI= 32.2, 35.0) and 19.5% (95% CI= 18.3, 20.7) respectively. There were more females who were obese (22.5%, 95% CI=20.9, 24.0) compared to males (14.1%, 95% CI=12.3, 15.9). Highest prevalence of obesity were among the Indians (24.6%, 95% CI=20.3, 29.3), followed closely by the Malays (23.2%, 95% CI=21.6, 24.8%) and lowest prevalence was among the Chinese subjects (8.2%, 95% CI=6.2, 10.6). More than 43% of the 531 younger subjects (<30 years old) were either overweight (20%, 95% CI=16.6, 23.6) or obese (13.9%, 95% CI=11.1, 17.2%). All subjects who claimed to be non-diabetes were required to undergo 75 g glucose tolerance test. Compared to subjects with normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), there was a 3- and 2-folds increase in the prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance respectively, among obese subjects (BMI>30 kg/m2) who initially claimed to have no diabetes. This study highlights a need for more active, inter-sectoral participation advocating a health-promoting environment in order to combat obesity in this country.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre, Insti-tute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. nazaimoon@imr.gov.my
authors.forename: Wan Nazaimoon-Wan
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Mohamud
authors.forename: Kamarul Imran
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: Amir Sharifuddin-Md
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khir
authors.forename: Aziz Al-Safi
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Ikram Shah
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Khalid Abdul
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kadir
authors.forename: Nor Azmi
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kamaruddin
authors.forename: Nor Azwany
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Yaacob
authors.forename: Norlaila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Siti Harnida-Md
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.forename: Wan Mohamad-Wan
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bebakar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors